Rowing team arranged from left to right, ascending from the bottom row to the top: Faith Brown, Charlotte Pelton, Allison Schulz, Allison Novey, Abigayle Lowes, Riley Warnick, Antonia Leitinger, Anna Beck, Amelia Schulz, Peri Stevens, Sophie Hicks, Maria Kinnan, Sophie Mathew, Angelina Gao, Abigail Schulz, Hazel Brown, Dilan Hoagland, Lena Walter, Colette Slaats, Bella Crimaldi, […]
Beaver Creek Sculling hosted the annual Dam Turn Regatta on Sunday, November 3. This intersquad event offers a distinctive experience for the rowing team as well as for the parents, grandparents, siblings, and friends supporting the team. It represents the only chance for many family members and friends to witness the team compete, as all other competitive regattas occur out of the local area or state. Initiated by Myriam Pitts, the founder of the sculling team, this event has been traditionally held annually at Beaver Creek Reservoir. This year, the team boasts over 60 kids; come spring, they will race as the Western Albemarle Warriors.
The regatta takes place the weekend following the team’s last fall competition, typically around the first or second weekend in November. It is special because each team member has the opportunity to race at least twice. Rowers select their preferred races and can create their own teams. In contrast to regular competitive events throughout the year, where teams are formed by coaches, this regatta allows kids to determine their own lineups, including co-ed teams, which are seldom permitted in official competitions. The Dam Turn Regatta also invites parents to race alongside their children. This year featured two such teams: Justin Beck partnered with his daughter Anna, and Jenny Mathewes teamed up with her son Henry.
The team is set to conduct its principal fundraising event of the year, an auction, in March at Veritas Vineyards. Typically, over 100 items are available for bidding. Coach Craig Redinger, who has been with the team since 2014, has successfully advanced fundraising efforts to enhance the fleet to a contemporary lineup of carbon fiber boats.
The team maintains a hectic racing schedule. In October, they participated in the Head of the Charles competition in Boston, where two Beaver Creek teams secured mid-pack finishes among over 60 sculling teams.
